Although I've really enjoyed so many in this series, Portrait is my favourite of them all, I think, because we see Roarke so discombobulated and less than perfect, and wonder of wonders, sharp with Eve, a state very rare for him. And in a change of pace, it's Eve who has to be the nurturing one. I'd love your thoughts on this installment when you're done.

What she said. (I have another online friend meandering her way through the series, and I want to just hand her Portrait and say, "read this one already, would you?")_________________Binocular vision, no need to hop, and an ever-so-much easier time of it climbing ladders.
- James Cobham in Freedom & Necessity

But I feel the emotional impact of the events in Portrait have a bigger payoff if you've (a) read the previous books in the series and (b) you come to you spoiler free.

I remember being truly shocked by one of the things that happens in that book and can still revisit that sense of "whoa!" whenever I reread the book. Obviously having read the series in real time as it was published I can't know that if reading the books out of order the first time or knowing the event in advance "spoils" it the very literal sense of the word. I know that some fans read the series more for the mystery elements, some for the romance, etc, so none of us all read the books in the same way. But that sense of surprise had a very real impact on me and, as a fan of the series, I want every reader to have that same “aha!” moment or at least their own version of it.

Finished Portrait in Death; and although the mystery part of it was not extraordinary, the relationship between Roarke and Dallas definitely was. I'm pretty sure that is what the three of you are talking about commonly. It's funny, and I think I can say this without giving anything away, but Dallas just doesn't have a clue when it comes to providing bandaids to a situation. I love it. She blunders about, goes into denial, then asks someone she has respect for what is the right thing to do. Inevitably it ends up with her saying that this marriage thing is hard work. And it is--don't we all know?

Roarke was very vulnerable here and he appeared to be clueless at times, too, as to what action to take. Really not so different from life, in that sometimes we get thrown for a loop and don't know the next step to take. Yes, it was a different side of him, for sure. Lovin' how Roberts is allowing us to see how this relationship moves and grows--beyond the HEA--still in love, but hitting the challenges that living their lives sends along the way. I'm all caught up in the characters (with the exception of Mavis and Leonardo, sorry to say). More appear to be added occasionally and it just adds to the family. I can definitely see the addiction to the series, as Dick has said. I can see why so many people enjoy the books as they come out. Ready for Imitation..., but first I have some foot surgery tomorrow, then a forced weight-off-the-foot for six weeks. Wonder what books I'll be reading?

Finished Portrait in Death; and although the mystery part of it was not extraordinary, the relationship between Roarke and Dallas definitely was. I'm pretty sure that is what the three of you are talking about commonly.

Exactly. The mystery plot is pretty much a repeat from Sanctuary, but the personal revelations make this one a high point of the series for me.

Sorry to hear about the foot surgery! Hope you have someone who loves you to wait on you and bring you bon-bons and books._________________Binocular vision, no need to hop, and an ever-so-much easier time of it climbing ladders.
- James Cobham in Freedom & Necessity

Sorry to hear about the foot surgery! Hope you have someone who loves you to wait on you and bring you bon-bons and books.

It's an ongoing thing with my husband that, even though he applied for the position of cabana boy during recuperation, he may not get it due to not being qualified. But I have been practicing the arm and hand movements involved in the beckoning command. Can you believe that I showed him finally how to work our washing machine since it's in the basement and I won't be doing stairs? Guess who's been spoiled in our household? I'm sure it'll all work out. As long as he picks up books at the library and keeps the TBR basket filled, we're good.

dick wrote:

Did I not get steroid and/or alcohol shots regularly, I'd have to go around in socks or bare feet

The cortisone shot I received about six months ago did absolutely nothing. I stalled long enough; I knew surgery would be the next step, but like Dallas, tried to do all in my power to postpone and deny. Since the secondary issues in the foot are actually caused by arthritis, I'm hoping that there will be some lessening of pain anyway. Think positive and all of that, I say.

Last edited by Tee on Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:59 pm; edited 1 time in total

Everybody read in the news about Paneta's warning about the possibility of a cyber war after someone's--Iran, it's thought--infecting an oil company's computers with a virus that destroyed data? IIRC, just such a virus was a plot point in "Divided in Death,," published in 2004.

Everybody read in the news about Paneta's warning about the possibility of a cyber war after someone's--Iran, it's thought--infecting an oil company's computers with a virus that destroyed data? IIRC, just such a virus was a plot point in "Divided in Death,," published in 2004.

I didn't see that. But there is also a movie with Sandra Bullock (I think) which I saw years and years ago, where a virus is destroying data. I think it's called The Net. I know; that's a lot of "I thinks". Bullock is a complete computer geek/loner and ends up in danger because her identity is stolen and no one knows her because of her complete social isolation.

Everybody read in the news about Paneta's warning about the possibility of a cyber war after someone's--Iran, it's thought--infecting an oil company's computers with a virus that destroyed data? IIRC, just such a virus was a plot point in "Divided in Death,," published in 2004.

I didn't see that. But there is also a movie with Sandra Bullock (I think) which I saw years and years ago, where a virus is destroying data. I think it's called The Net. I know; that's a lot of "I thinks". Bullock is a complete computer geek/loner and ends up in danger because her identity is stolen and no one knows her because of her complete social isolation.

After reading Purity... and Portrait..., I thought I was truly off to the races with the series. Unfortunately, the next two books, Imitation... and Divided... didn't grab me as many of the others did. However, I'm well into Visions... and that book is definitely back on track. I think I missed the characters and their interrelationships in those couple of books. I have found, now that Eve and Roarke are relatively comfortable in their relationship, that the other characters add zest to the stories. They were missing here. Visions... has enough intermingling with the crew to take any boredom away. The next four are on reserve and we continue marching through.

I was a bit disappointed the first time I read Divided, but in rereads it has become one of my favorite books in this series. The repercussions from that story continue to play out in subsequent books. Spoiler And I thought the arguments between Eve and Roarke and their conflicting view over how to handle the revelation about the HSO’s knowledge of what happened to Eve (and their inaction) was so true to each of their characters and their relationship. Plus it has some great Feeney scenes.

Visions is another book where I enjoyed the personal interactions between the characters much more than the mystery.

Visions is another book where I enjoyed the personal interactions between the characters much more than the mystery.

Yes, that's the book I'm into now and almost finished with. I am loving it a lot and I know it's because of the characters' interractions. In a series which features two main characters in 36 some books, it's important, IMO, to have other focuses. Most of the mysteries are well done (almost surprisingly so), but it just may not be enough to sustain. All in all, a wonderful series. I am very happy that I decided to begin reading it. I know that not all of the stories will be A/B material, but Roberts has succeeded in making the majority of them very interesting. Kudos to her; that's not an easy feat.